Provenance

Bequeathed by the artist in 1816 to James White (1744–1825) of Exeter, on whose death it passed to Towne’s residuary legatee John Herman Merivale (1779–1844) and his successors. Merivale’s granddaughters Maria Sophia Merivale (1853–1928) and Judith Ann Merivale (1860–1945), both of Oxford, inherited the drawing in May 1915 (BP160 “no name but clearly belonging to Ambleside series”). In 1937 it was on sale at the Fine Art Society, although the Barton Place catalogue gives no details of how it came to be there. By July 1937 the drawing had been sold, and in 1942 it was on sale again at the Fine Art Society, where on 26 November 1942 it was sold for £36 15s. to Geoffrey Fenwick Jocelyn Cumberlege (1891–1979). The back of the drawing is inscribed “Louisa”, suggesting that it was owned by Louisa Ann Merivale (1819–1885), seventh child of John Herman Merivale.

Comment

This is probably a study made in or near Ambleside, perhaps at Stock Ghyll or on the Rivers Brathay or Rothay on the outskirts of the town. The drawing has been heavily worked up by Towne late in life. Oppé’s reference to an “Ambleside series” indicates that he associated it with other works of Stock Ghyll made on Roman paper.